History Praia do Almoxarife

the front fachade of church of nossa senhora da graça

praia beachhead of settlement on faial, first used beachhead explorers, , new colonists coming settle central group of azores. in 1466, josse van huerter , flemish compatriots landed on beach in misguided hope of discovery precious metals (in particular tin , silver). settlement abridged lomba dos frades, stayed year. there falling out between huerter , crew, , narrowly escaped island life. later returned in 1466-67, commission duchess of burgundy settle , populate islands in name of crown of portugal. quickly, discovered area s limitations continued, , abandoned settlement in favour of adjacent valley, later known vale dos flamengos (valley of flems); island chroniclers blamed abandon of praia on lack of potable water source.

meanwhile, other settlers continued occupy region, small settlement persisted through decades. praia, likely, received current toponymy (based in moorish or islamic origin) being point of settlement administrator of lands or royal treasurer on island; almoxarife means treasurer, term in disuse in portugal, refers agent responsible guarding, distributing, inventorying goods or supplies.

on 12 september 1597, english privateers sacked , burned down buildings in parish.

by 1643, friar diogo das chagas, noted parish consisted of 305 inhabitants dispersed within valley.

on 1 february 1718, many residents gathered @ casa da câmara (municipal house), in horta, following catastrophic eruption on island of pico, disturbed parishes of santa luzia , bandeiras. here, local residents travelled in procession church of nossa senhora da conceição (our lady of conception), image of senhor santo cristo, met group of faithful carrying statue of virgin mary. @ church groups prayed redemption , mercy . during course of benedictions, community made pledge continue celebrate masses of penance, devotion , thanksgiving on future anniversaries in name of senhor santo cristo; pledged every year long earth existed...at municipality s expense...with officials...assisted communities, made @ church of praia...at expense necessary .

following beginning of first portuguese republic until 1926, owing anti-religious secularism in political administration in portugal (and azores), masses of thanksgiving discontinued. after 1926 horta earthquake destroyed 204 houses out of 220 in praia almoxarife, new petition citizens, renew tradition, forwarded ministério interior (ministry of interior), minister authorized chief of district renew tradition.